Island



(No Model.)

0. 1). OATMAN.

WITNESSES; INVENTORI WM gLwi /iua N-PETEES. PHOTOLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, DC,

IJ'NTTED STATES PATENT Trice.

CHARLES D. OATMAN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

LIFE-PRESERVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,606, dated November 16, 1880.

Application filed July 21, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. OATMAN, of the city and county of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Life-Preservers; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs, forming part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to convert a traveling-bag, satchel, or valise into a life-preserver, so that at all times the means for SELV- ing life are at the command of a traveler and within his own control.

The invention consists in securing within a travelingbag, satchel, or valise air cases or bags which are provided with valves, so that the said cases or bags may be readily inflated and the satchel used as a life-preserver when required. The air-bags are so disposed that they may, when not inflated, form pockets in the bag, satchel, or valise, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

Figure l is a View illustrating the mode of applying the improved life-preserver. Fig. 2 is a view of the life-preserver ready for use, and Fig. 3 is a view of a satchel provided with the air bags or cases secured so as to form pockets.

In the drawings, a to represent the two halves of a valise or satchel.

b I) represent cases or bags made of mate rial impervious to air or water, which can be inflated by filling the same with air. These air-cases b b are secured by means of strings, buttons, or buckles to the sides of the satchel, and may extend along the back and be secured so as to form pockets, into which small articles can be placed.

0 c are similar air-cases, secured to the ends of the satchel, and also arranged toform pockets. The air-cases are provided with valves (1 d, by means of which they may be readily inflated and the air secured therein.

The air-cases b may be at one side firmly secured to the satchel, so that the satchel and the air-cases will be used together, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The air-cases c 0, being in the satchel proper, form a back for the person using the same. The life-preserver is secured by passing the straps e 6 over the shoulders and tying the front at 1'' together.

The two air-cases I) b, forming the sides, can be removed and used as air-cushions or lifepreservers, while those forming the end pockets, c c, are secured to the satchel, and when inflated serve to float the same, so that the life of a person and the most necessary articles can be saved in case of shipwreck.

Toplace the air-cases, when not inflated, as much as possible out of the way, I prefer to secure the same under the iron frame of the satchel, where they form pockets and do not obstruct the openings. They may also be more firmly secured to the metal frames than to the material of the satchel.

Having thus described myiuvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcut-- The satchel-sides a a and the inflatable bags or cases I) b 00, secured interiorly of said satchel, and forming pockets therein when not inflated,

of position as pockets and secured about a person, as shown, in combination with the straps c and fasteningsf, for attaching said parts to a person, substantially as described.

CHARLES I). OATMAN. Witnesses:

J osErH A. MILLER, J OSEPH A. MILLER, Jr.

and capable of being inflated and turned out 

